Adhesive applicator



June 14, 1966 R. R. WEIS 3,255,729

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. P0004; F! 14 575 L BM MZZM 4770IVEY5 June 14, 1966 R. R. WEIS 3,255,729

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 14, 1966 R. R. WEIS ADHESIVE APPLICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 21, 1962 INVENTOR. P0004; 2, Wi/J June 14, 1966 R. R. WEIS 3,255,729

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FIG 7 Puma; R ll i/s BY [3204, a i w drawn from a parent roll.

United States Patent 3,255,729 ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Rudolf R. Weis, Antioch, Calif., assignor to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Dec. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 246,518 19 Claims. (Cl. 118-212) This invention relates to apparatus for applying fluid materials to a surface, and more particularly to applicator apparatus for depositing liquid and semi-liquid materials in a predetermined pattern upon a receiving surface. The apparatus is especially useful in association with bagmaking equipment for applying an adhesive material to a bag bottom prior to folding the open flaps thereof into their closed position to adhesively secure the same in such position and thereby close the bag bottom.

Considering the manufacture of bags as an environmental setting for the invention, and, in particular, the manufacture of paper grocery bags of the self-opening type, such bags are made from continuous flat stock The stock is first formed upon a mandrel into an endless tube having overlapping longitudinal edge portions, and is secured in such tubular configuration by adhesively joining the overlapping edge portions thereof. The endless tube is then cut into appropriate lengths, usually called bag tubes, each of which is folded into a generally planar configuration; and the bottom end of each bag tube is provided with transversely extending leading and trailing flaps as a part of the cutting operation. Further, the longitudinal edge portions of each bag bottom are folded inwardly and, in part, define such leading and trailing flaps. Subsequently, a pattern of adhesive is applied to the bag bottom, and the leading and trailing flaps thereof are folded inwardly into engagement with the adhesive to close the bag bottom. Such bag-forming operations are continuous and are performed at high speeds with all of the various steps occurring while the stock and bag tubes are moving in a direction generally corresponding to the longitudinal axes of the stock and tubes.

The apparatus generally used for applying adhesive to each bag bottom and for folding or closing the transverse flaps thereof is often referred to as a bag-bottoming machine, and in such machine and trailing flap of each bag tube is first folded forwardly to adhesively secure the same to the underlying or inwardly disposed longitudinal edge portions of the bag bottom, and subsequent thereto the leading flap is folded rearwardly to adhesively secure it to the trailing flap andunderlying longitudinal edge portions of the bag bottom to complete or close the same. With respect to the present invention, the equipment employed to form the bag tubes and provide the bottoms thereof with leading and trailing flaps may be wholly conventional and the particular flap folders, which comprise a part of the bag-bottoming equipment, may also be conventional.

Rather, the present invention is concerned with the adhesive applicator and those now in commercial use are in the nature of rotatable transfer rolls that in one portion of their rotational cycle pick up adhesive from a supply structure by contact therewith and then deposit such adhesive onto a bag bottom during another portion of the rotational cycle. Although transfer-type adhesive applicators have been in extensive use for many years, there are a number of disadvantages characteristically inherent in their use. For example, the adhesive employed must be quite viscous and, consequently, is relatively expensive since it must have a high solids content in order to provide the requisite viscosity. An adhesive of this type is necessary in order to prevent leakage between the applicator roll and the supply structure which ice is usually a pan. Additionally, the use of a viscous adhesive for closing the bag bottoms necessitates the requirement of two adhesive systems, one for closing the bag bottom and a separate, low viscosity system for joining the overlapping longitudinal edge portions of the bag tubes where a much less expensive, low viscosity adhesive may be employed because the leakage problems are not present.

1 Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide improved applicator apparatus for applying a fluid material to a surface. Another object of the invention is that of providing applicator apparatus for depositing liquid and semi-liquid materials, such as adhesive or paste, in a predetermined pattern onto a surface, and in which such liquid material is fed directly to an applicator roll thereby eliminating the need for supply pans and similar structures and, quite. apparently, obviating the requirement for cleaning the same. I

Still another object is in the provision of applicator apparatus especially suited for use in applying an adhesive pattern to a bag bottom as a part of the closing thereof, and which is characterized by accommodating the use of relatively low viscosity adhesives, so that a single adhesive may be used both for the longitudinal seaming of the bag tubes and for closing of the bottoms thereof. A further object is to provide applicator apparatus of the character described in which the supply of adhesive to the applicator roll is automatically controlled in timed relation with the rotational movement thereof in accordance with the requirement of adhesive for deposition by the roll onto a bag bottom or the like.

Still a further object is to provide an applicator roll having a plurality of adhesive discharge openings defining a predetermined pattern for the deposition of adhesive onto a surface, and in which adhesive is supplied under pressure to each of the passages in timed relation with the movement thereof toward engagement with such surface. Still a further object is to provide an applicator roll having a plurality of adhesive discharge openings oriented to define a predetermined pattern of adhesive a deposition onto a bag bottom or other surface, and in which adhesive is automatically fed to each of such openings in sequence as determined by the rotational movement of the roll and in accordance with the advancement of such openings toward engagement with the receiving surface.

. Yet a further object is in the provision of applicator apparatus conveniently susceptible of higher operating speeds than the transfer-type applicators now in use; and which is structurally simple, clean in operation, and enables the adhesive pattern to be quickly and easily changed. Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a largely diagrammatic side View in elevation of a bag-bottoming machine employing an applicator mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the anism;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a broken transverse sectional View taken along the plane 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a broken transverse sectional view taken along the plane 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional view taken along the plane 6-.6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a broken plan View taken generally along the plane '7-7 of FIGURE 6;

applicator mech- FIGURE 8 is a broken transverse sectional view taken along the plane 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a broken vertical sectional view taken generally along the plane 9-9 of FIGURE and FIGURES 10 and 11 are plan views of a typical selfopening paper grocery bag respectively illustrating the same before and after the bottom transverse flaps thereof have been folded to close the bag bottom.

The exemplary apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 is essentially a bag-bottoming machine and includes a generally cylindrical drum 15 mounted for rotation about an axis defined by a shaft or axle 16 extending through the drum. The drum 15 is equipped with a ring gear 17 and is rotated in a clockwise direction by a drive gear 18 that engages the ring gear 17 and is driven by a motor 19. A succession of flap-equipped articles is fed to the drum 16 by a conveyor shown diagrammatically at 20, which may be completely conventional and, for example, may be an endless belt entrained at opposite ends thereof about drive and idler pulleys. It will be apparent that guide structure, usually in the form of rollers, will be operatively arranged with the conveyor and drum to direct such articles onto the cylindrical surface of the drum, but such structure has not been illustrated for purposes of simplifying the drawings, and because it does not, per se, form a part of the present invention.

The drum 15 in its rotary movement advances such articles through an adhesive-applying station at which a pattern of adhesive is applied to each such article. In FIGURE 1, such adhesive station is defined by applicator apparatus 21 having an applicator roll rotatable about an axis defined by a shaft 22. The applicator 21 is provided with a gear 24 that meshes with the ring gear 17 of the drum 15 so that the adhesive applicator roll is rotated in synchronism therewith. The applicator apparatus 21 will be described in further detail hereinafter.

Following the adhesive-applying station is a flap-folding station defined by apparatus generally designated with the numeral 25, and the drum 15 is adapted to successively advance articles thereto after moving such articles through the adhesive-applying station. After the fiaps of each article are folded, the drum discharges the articles onto a conveyor diagrammatically indicated at 26, and such conveyor may be of any suitable type. By way of further explanation, the conveyor 26 may comprise a pair of endless belts respectively entrained about drive and idler pulleys and oriented so that the surfaces of the belts are in facing, substantially contiguous relation. Each article is fed between the contiguous belts which convey the same to the end of the conveyor while holding the flaps in their folded position to permit the adhesive to cure. Again, guide structure, which may be in the form of rollers, will be included to positively direct articles from the drum 15 and to the conveyor 26, but such structure has been omitted from the drawings for purposes of simplifying the same.

The flap-folding apparatus 25 includes a pair of substantially similar and generally identical flap-folding units 27 (only one of which is shown) mounted in transversely spaced relation and secured by cap screws or other suitable means upon a bracket 26 anchored to the frame 29 of the bag-bottoming machine. A detailed disclosure of the flap-folding unit 22 is presented in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 169,301, filed January 29, 1962; but for convenience, it may be stated that the flapfolding unit 22 is provided with a gear 30 that is drivingly connected to the ring gear 17 through an idler gear 31. Consequently, the gear 30 is rotated in synchronism with the drum 15 and through a drive mechanism, not shown, rotates the finger or flap-folder 32 in timed relation with the movement of the drum.

It is shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 that the bag 33 in passing through the applicator station 21 has an adhesive pattern 34 applied to the open bottom thereof, and such pattern overlies the inwardly folded longitudinal flaps 35 and 36 and the leading transverse flap 37 as well as a part of the trailing transverse flap 38. The two flap folders 32 in their rotational movement are effective to fold the trailing flap 38 forwardly as the bag 33 is advanced by the drum 15 through the folding station, and thereafter the leading flap 37 is folded rearwardly by the stationary guide or flap-folder 39 whereupon the bag bottom is completely closed, as shown in FIGURE 11. The bag is then advanced by the drum to the conveyor 26.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular, it is seen that the applicator structure 21 has a roll which is formed in three main componentsa stator section 40, a rotor section 41, and a pair of shoes carried by the rotor section and respectively designated with the numerals 42a and 42b. The shaft 22 extends through the stator and rotor sections and at its opposite ends is journaled for rotation in bearings provided by a pair of transversely spaced brackets 43 and 44. At one end the shaft 22 terminates at the bracket 43, and is secured in position and constrained against displacement along its axis in at least one direction by a washer and nut composition 45. At its opposite end, the shaft 22 extends through the bracket 44 and carries the gear 24 which is mounted thereon in any manner (as by a key) suitable to permit rotation of the gear to be effective to rotate the shaft. The bracket 44 has a plate 46 bolted thereto which is adapted to retain the bearing structure within the bracket and urge such bearing against a shoulder or other protuberance provided by the shaft 22 so as to prevent axial displacements thereof in the opposite direction.

As seen most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 5, the rotor 41 is of generally cylindrical configuration and has an outer rim or flange 47 formed integrally with a centrally disposed web 48 that is integrally related to a centrally disposed hub 49 provided with a central opening therethrough that receives the shaft 22. The rotor is secured to the shaft so as to rotate therewith and such interrelation thereof may be accomplished by a conventional key arrangement 50. The stator 40 comprises two substantially identical components respectively disposed along the opposite sides of the rotor 47, and for purposes of identification the suffixes a and b are used in connection with the numeral to designate such components.

The rotor 41 is necessarily rotatable relative to the stator components 40a and 40b, and relative rotation is provided by mounting the stator components on the rotor through anti-friction devices such as ball bearings 51, the inner race of which is mounted upon an end portion of the hub 49 and the outer race of which supports the respectively associated stator components thereon. The bearings 51 and, in particular, the inner race thereof is urged into tight abutment with a shoulder provided by the hub 49 by means of a spacer 52 that is pressed thereagainst by a nut 53 threadedly received upon the shaft 22. It will be appreciated, as shown in FIGURE 2, that the structure is symmetrical about a center line extending through the web 48 and thus, both the stator and rotor are positively located along the shaft 22 by the nuts 53, and the precise location of the applicator roll may be shifted slightly along the axis of the shaft 22 by suitable adjustment of the nuts 53.

Each of the stator sections 40a and 40b is provided along the generally cylindrical outer surface thereof with a tooth-equipped segment, and such segments are respectively designated with the numerals 54a and 54b. The segments have an arcuate length of approximately 45 and respectively engage and mesh with a pair of gears 55a and 5512 which are sweated, pinned or otherwise secured to a shaft 56 that is disposed in substantially parallel relation with the shaft 22 and has end portions that extend through the brackets 43 and 44. The shaft 56 is equipped at one end thereof with a nut 57 that engages a reduced and threaded end portion of the shaft and, when tightened, bears against the outer surface of the bracket 44 through a washer 58.

Coaxially mounted upon the shaft 56 are a pair of collars or spacers 59 and 60 respectively disposed intermediate the gear 55a and bracket 43 and between the gear 55b and bracket 44. Secured to the shaft 56 at its opposite end, which projects outwardly beyond the bracket 43, is a hand nut or wheel 61 that is used to selectively rotate the shaft to adjust the position thereof. The hand nut 61 is keyed to the shaft 56, and has a hollow interior that receives a lock nut 61a therein that is threadedly mounted upon the corresponding end of the shaft, and retains the hand nut 61 thereon.

To lock the shaft 56 in any adjusted position, the nut 61a is tightened, which tends to displace the shaft 56 toward the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, thereby moving the hand wheel 61 into frictional engagement with the bracket 43 with the result that the shaft is frictionally constrained against rotation. It will be appreciated that rotation of the hand wheel 61 and shaft 56 is effective to angularly displace the stator components 40a and 40b relative to the rotor section 41, and such relative move ment affords adjustment of the time at which adhesive is fed to the adhesive discharge openings' in the rotor, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The rotor section 41 comprises a plurality of adhesivedischarge systems, and in this respect, the flange or rim 47 of the rotor section is provided with a plurality of adhesive flow passages included in such discharge systems, some of which passages have two segments, as shown in FIGURE 4, and others three segments, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 8. For purposes of positive identification, such segments of the two-segment passages are denoted with the numerals 62 and 63 and are respectively oriented in transverse and radial directions. Thus, the segment 62 extends inwardly from the face 64 of the flange 47 and is oriented in substantially parallel relation with the axis of the shaft 22; and the segment 63 is radially disposed and extends outwardly from the inner end portion of the passage segment 62 to the cylindrical surface of the flange 47. In the particular structure under consideration, the adhesive pattern applied to each bag bottom is generally U shaped (see FIGURE and the passage composition 62-63 forms the legs of the U. The three-segment passages forming the base of the U are of slightly different configuration, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 8, and each such passage has a transversely oriented segment 65, a radially oriented segment 66, and a transversely disposed channel or open slot 67 positioned along the cylindrical surface of the flange 47.

Referring to FIGURE 6, it will be noted that each of the transversely disposed segments of the various passages, namely, the segments 62 and 65, are angularly spaced along the face 64 of the flange 47 and together occupy an angular distance slightly in excess of 90. While in the particular structure illustrated, the passage segments are spaced apart by equal angular distances, the precise location thereof may depend upon the configuration of the adhesive pattern to be deposited bythe applicator structure. Each of the passage segments 63 is oriented in substantial alignment with the respectively associated segments 62, and all of these radially disposed passage segments 63 are angularly spaced from each other by equal distances and, as stated hereinbefore, form the legs of the U-shaped pattern.

It should be noted that the passage composition just described is duplicated along the opposite side of the flange 47 and provides the opposite leg of the U-shaped pattern. Additionally, such passage arrangements are duplicated along a diametrically opposed segment of the flange 47 (see FIGURES 2 through 5) so that two separate and independent adhesive patterns of U-shape are deposited by the applicator structure for each complete 360 rotation of the applicator roll. v

It is most evident in FIGURE 7 that the open slots or channels 67 are angularly disposed and that the lengths thereof vary in accordance with the distance between the radial segments 66 with which they respectively connect and their respective termini along the base of the U- shaped, pattern. Thus, the segments 67 progressively increase in length as they connect with areas of the base of the U-shaped pattern which are progressively spaced inwardly by greater distances from the legs of such pattern.-

Each of the stator components, as illustrated most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 5 which show the component 40a thereof in detail, has an inner face 68 disposed in contiguous relation with the outer face 64 of the flange 47, and each of these faces should provide a finished surface so that a common plane is defined thereby and a good sliding relation afforded therebe'tween. The face 68 of the stator component is resiliently urged into abutment with the face 64 of the rotor flange by a plurality of helical springs 69 that are spaced from each other by equal angular distances, there being six such springs in the structure illustrated. The springs 69 respectively seat at one end thereof within a plurality of annular recesses 70 provided therefor in an inwardly olfset annular or ringshaped portion 71 provided by the component 40a in underlying relation with the rotor flange 47. Each of the springs 69 at its other end seats against a stop 72 provided by an adjusting screw 73 threadedly received within a tapped opening provided therefor in an annulus or ring 74 mounted upon the outer race of the bearing 51. A nut 75 is provided for each such bolt 73 to lock the same in any selected position thereof within the ring 74; and it will be appreciated that the composite biasing force of the springs 69 presses the stator component 49a (and more particularly the face 68 thereof) inwardly and into abutment with the face 64 of the rotor flange 47, and such biasing force may be adjusted by appropriate positioning of the screws 73.

The ring 74 is constrained against rotation with respect to the stator component 40a (apart from the constraint afforded by the plurality of springs 69) by a pair of dogs 76 and 77 which are rigidly aflixed to the ring 74 by cap screws 78 and 79, and respectively extend radially outwardly into slots 80 and 81 provided by the component 40a at diametrically oriented locations therealong. Thus, the ring 74 comprises a part of the stator component and provides the physical connection thereof with the outer race of the bearings 51.

The shoes 42a and 42b heretofore referred to are mounted upon the cylindrical perimetric surface of the rotor section 41, andeach shoe has an arcuate configuration conforming to such cylindricalsurface. In arcuate length, each of the shoes extends along the rotor for an angular distance somewhat in excess of 90, and is secured to the rotor by a plurality of screws 82. The shoes are substantially identical and each such shoe is provided with -a plurality of adhesive discharge openings or ports 83 which are respectively aligned with the rotor passage segments 63 and 67 and are in open communication there- 'with. Thus, the adhesive discharge openings 83 are oriented to define a generally U-shaped pattern, and com-prise part of the aforementioned adhesive-discharge systems.

Each of the shoes has a pair of raised ribs or beads 84 and 85 that are disposed in spaced apart, substantially parallel relation and extend along the openings 83 on opposite sides thereof. Consequently, the-openings are positioned within a channel defined between the ribs and, therefore, the openings do not directly engage the surface onto which the adhesive pattern is deposited since they are spaced therefrom by the ribs which do engage such surface.

Adhesive is fed to each of the stator sections from a suitable source of supply, such as a reservoir 86 (FIG- URE 1), by a pair of constant speed, continuously operating pumps 87 and 88 respectively disposed in the adhesive flow paths to and from the stator sections. As shown in FIGURE 1, the pump 87 is disposed in a supply conduit 89 that connects the reservoir 86 with the inlet 90 of a chamber 91 provided by the stator component 40a; and the pump 88 is disposed in a return conduit 92 that connects the reservoir 86 with the return outlet 93 of the chamber 91. As is shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 9, the chamber 91 is angularly elongated and has an arcuate length of approximately 90 from the inlet 90 to to the outlet 93 thereof; and the chamber 91 is adapted to successively communicate with each of the rotor passage segments 62 and 65 through a single port or opening 94 that is transversely disposed and is in alignment with the circle or are described by the passage segments 62' and 65 as the applicator section 41 rotates.

In actual practice, the pumps 87 and 88 are driven by the associated bag-bottoming machine; and, therefore, both the operation and speed of the pumps are determined by such machine. Consequently, the pumps operate continuously when the machine is in operation, and they operate at constant speed for any particular operating speed of the machine. However,the return pump 88 is operated at a slightly slower speed than the delivery pump 87 and, as a consequence, a positive pressure is maintained in the chamber 91. It will be apparent that the delivery pump 87 should be equipped with an internal relief valve to prevent a pressure build-up in the supply system during periods in which adhesive is not being delivered to the adhesive discharge openings 83that is, during periods when the port 94 is not communicating with the passage segments 62 and 65. FIGURE 4 illustrates the condition in which the chamber 91 is in open communication with a passage segment 62 through the medium of the port 94; and FIGURE 5 illustrates the condition in which certain passage segments 62 and 65 are remote from the port 94.

Since the stator components 40a and 40b are substantially identical, adhesive is delivered simultaneously to the respective chambers thereof; and, therefore, the various discharge openings 83 respectively defining the opposite legs of the U-shaped pattern are separately supplied with adhesive from the respectively associated stator components 40a ad 40b. With respect to the base of the U-shaped pattern, each of the stator components supplies adhesive for one-half of the discharge openings thereof. Quite apparently, then, the adhesive supply system must deliver adhesive simultaneously to each of the stator com ponents 40a and 40b and, while independent pump and reservoir arrangements may be employed for this purpose, it has been found quite satisfactory to supply both components through the pumps 87 and 88 by having branch conduits respectively connected therewith.

In operation of the apparatus, the open-ended bags are advanced to the drum 15 by the conveyor 20 and are transferred in succession thereby to and through the adhesive-applying station 21. At the station 21, a generally U-shaped pattern 34 of adhesive is applied to each bag bottom, such pattern being shown in FIGURE and, thereafter, the drum advances each such bag through the closing station whereat the folding fingers 32 engage and fold the trailing bag-bottom flap 38 forwardly and the stationary plow 39 folds the leading flap 37 rearwardly to completely close the bag bottom. Each .bag is then removed from the bag-closing machine by the discharge conveyor 26.

The adhesive applicator roll is continuously driven by the drum 15 through the gear train comprising the drive gear 18 of the motor 19, ring gear 17 provided by the drum, and gear 24 which is connected to and drives the shaft 22 of the applicator roll. The pumps 87 and 88 operate continuously and at constant speeds and provide a continuous flow of adhesive into and through each of the chambers 91, which are respectively provided by the stator components 40a and 40b. Since the speed of the delivery pump 88 is slightly in excess of the speed of the return pump 87, the adhesive Within each of the chambers 91 is maintained at a positive, super-atmospheric pressure.

When the drum 15 is being rotated, the rotor section 41 of the applicator roll is correspondingly rotated because it is keyed to the shaft 22. On the other hand, the stator sections 40a and 40b are constrained against rotation because of their respective connection through the engaged gears 54a55a and 54b-55b with the shaft 56 which is frictionally locked to the frame elements 43 and 44 so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The stator sections 49a and 40b can be adjustably displaced angularly relative to the rotor section 41 by releasing the frictional interlock of the shaft 56 with the frame elements and rotating the shaft by means of the hand nut 61. Such adjustment is used to time the mechanism; that is, determine the angular location in the rotational movement of the rotor section at which the adhesive supply passages 62 and 65 commence their successive communication with the passage 94 of each adhesive supply chamber 91.

As the rotor section 41 is driven by the shaft 22, the stator sections 40a and 40b remain angularly fixed, and as a consequence, relative movement occurs between the rotor 41 and each of the supply chambers 91 and in particular, the supply ports 94 thereof. Therefore, the axially extending supply-passage segments 62 and 65 on each side of the rotor are successively rotated into alignment and communication with the associated supply port 94 one being provided by each of the stator sections. As each supply-passage is moved into alignment with one of the ports 94, adhesive is forced therefrom into the supply-passage and flows outwardly therefrom through the associated opening 83 in one or the other of the shoes 42a and 42b which are carried by and rotate with the rotor section. The delivery of adhesive to the supplypassage and opening 83 communicating therewith occurs slightly before the opening is rotated into adjacency with the bottom of a bag 33 being advanced to the applicator station by the drum 15; and, therefore, a globule of adhesive is awaiting to be deposited onto the bag bottom when such opening 83 is rotated into overlying adjacency therewith.

The various supply-passage segments 62 and 65 on each side of the rotor are spaced from each other angularly along the outer surfaces 64 of the rotor flange 47, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 6. As a result, these passages communicate one at a time with the respectively associated ports 94 and in a regular, predetermined sequence determined by their angular location along the rotor flange. FIGURE 4.illustrates the condition in which one of the passage segments 62 associated with the shoe 42 is in communication with the port 94 of the stator section 40a, and it is evident in this figure that at such time the passage segments 62 and 65 associated with the shoe 42b are remote from the port 94. Comparing FIGURES 4 and 5, it is also evident that while one of the passage segments 62 associated with the shoe 42a is communicating with the port 94, other of the passage segments associated therewith are angularly spaced from the port 94 and are not receiving adhesive from the chamber 91. Thus, as the rotor section 41 rotates through each complete revolution, the various supply-passages associated with the shoe 42a are successively moved into and out of alignment with the respectively corresponding ports 94; as are the supply-passages associated with the shoe 42b.

Quite evidently then, this relationship provides an automatic valving function in which adhesive is delivered to any one of the supply-passages and communicating outlet 83 only during the brief interval in which such supplypassage is in alignment with the port 94; and during such brief interval, all of the other supply passages are in a non-adhesive-receiving condition since they are angularly remote from the port 94. This arrangement is especially advantageous in that it obviates both the requirement for control valves in the adhesive supply system and the additional requirement for timing mechanism to selectively actuate such valves in relation to the demand for adhesive at the various openings 83. Moreover, this valving function occurs automatically upon angular movement of the rotor 41, and the timing, then, is an automatic func tion of the rotational movement of the rotor section.

Therefore, if the angular velocity of the rotor is increased, which imposes the requirement for an accelerated sequential delivery of adhesive to the supply-passages, an accelerated rate of adhesive delivery occurs automatically because such rate of delivery is a direct function of the velocity of the rotor section 41.

The provision of the two angularly separated shoes 42a and 42b, together with the respectively associated supplypassage networks, results in the availability of two separate adhesive-deposition patterns for each complete 360 rotation of the rotor section 41; and this permits the bagbottoming apparatus to operate at a much greater speed.

The adhesive itself has been found to afford sufiicient lubrication of the relatively movable faces 64 and 68 of the stator and rotor sections, thereby obviating the need for a separate lubrication system; and the resilient force urging such faces into contiguous relation may be appropriately determined by proper positioning of the various adjusting screws 73 to provide the applicator roll with optimum operating characteristics.

The particular adhesive pattern deposited by the applicator roll can be changed by substituting a rotor section 41 having a different supply-passage network for the rotor shown in the drawings. Also, the adhesive pattern can be changed by substituting shoes 42a and 4212 which define a different adhesive pattern providing, of course, that the openings 83 thereof properly communicate with at least certain of the supply-passage segments 63 and 67. The raised ribs 84 and 85 along opposite sides of the openings 83 confine the adhesive discharging therefrom to rather sharply defined areas along the bag bottom which results in a conservation of adhesive and maximum utilization of that quantity thereof which is deposited onto the bag bottom. Moreover, and because a relatively low viscosity adhesive may be used, the .adhesive pattern depositedalong each bag-bottom is substantially continuous; that is, the individual globules run together and the ribs advantageously afford controlled flow of the adhesive to provide such continuous pattern while sharply defining the limits thereof.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit or the principles of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for depositing a fluid material onto a receiving surface, an applicator mechanism comprising a pair of relatively movable sections the first of which is provided with a fluid discharge system and the other of which is provided with an outlet opening and with an inlet opening in communication therewith, said inlet opening being connectable with a pressurized source of such fluid material tending to express the same through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge system for intermittent communication therewith as said sections continue in relative movement so that in one relative position of saidsections the outlet opening and discharge system are in communication and in a series of other relative positions thereof the outlet opening is closed by said first section, and structure supporting said sections for such relative movement, said sections in the aforesaid one relative position thereof being in a condition in which fluid material is delivered to said discharge system for deposition therefrom onto a receiving surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said sections are relatively rotatable, and in which said structure supports said sections for such relative rotational movement.

3. In apparatus for depositing a fluid material in a predetermined pattern onto a receiving surface, an applicator mechanism comprising a pair of relatively movable sections the first of which is provided with a plurality of fluid discharge systems oriented to define such pattern, the other such section being provided with an outlet opening and with an inlet opening in communication therewith, said inlet opening being connectable with a pressurized source of such fiuid material tending to express the same through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge systems for intermittent sequential communication therewith as said sections continue in movement relative to each other so that through one segment of their permissible displacement the outlet opening and selectively one or another of Said discharge systems is in communication and said opening being closed by said first section in a series of other segments of such permissible displacement, and structure supporting said sections for such relative movement, said sections in moving relative to each other through the aforesaid one segment being in a condition in which fluid material is sequential delivered to said discharge systems for deposition therefrom onto a receiving surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said sections are relatively rotatable, and in which said structure supports said sections for such relative rotational movement.

5. In apparatus for depositing a fluid material onto a receiving surface, an applicator mechanism comprising relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections, said rotor being provided with a fluid discharge system and said stator being provided with an outlet opening and with an inlet opening in communication therewith, said inlet Opening being connectable with a pressurized source of such fluid material tending to express the same through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge system for intermittent communication therewith as said sections continue in relative movement so that in one relative position of said sections the outlet opening and discharge system are in communication and in a series of other relative positions thereof the outlet opening is closed by said rotor section and flow-isolated thereby from said discharge system, and structure sup porting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section, said sections in the aforesaid one relative position thereof being in.a. condition in which fluid material is delivered to said discharge-system for deposition therefrom onto a receiving surface.

6. Apparatus for use in applying adhesive in a predetermined patern to bag botoms and the like, comprising an applicator mechanism having relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which is provided with a plurality of adhesive-discharge systems oriented to define such pattern, the other such section being provided with an adhesive chamber and being provided also at spaced locations with an inlet opening for said chamber and a return opening therefor and an outlet opening interposed there-between, adhesive supply means for providing a flow of adhesive through said chamber from the inlet opening to the return opening thereof and for maintaining the adhesive within said chamber under pressure thereby tending to express such adhesive through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge systems for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through one segment of their permissible displacement and being closed by said first section in other segments of such permissible displacement, and structure supporting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section,

said sections in moving relative to each other through the aforesaid one segment being in a condition in which adhesive is delivered to the said discharge systems for deposition in such pattern onto a bag bottom.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which each of said discharge systems includes a discharge port, and in which a pair of outwardly extending ribs are provided by said rotor in bordering relation with said discharge ports to space the same from any such bag bottom during deposition of the adhesive pattern thereonto.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said rotor and stator sections are provided with slidably related facing surfaces, said discharge systems and outlet opening each terminating along the respectively associated surfaces.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said rotor section is provided with an additional group of adhesive discharge systems oriented to define an additional adhesive-discharge pattern spaced from the pattern defined by the aforesaid plurality of adhesive-discharge systems, said additional group of discharge systems being respectively disposed relative to said outlet opening for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through a predetermined segment of their permissible displacement and said outlet opening being closed by said first section in other segments of such permissable displacement.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said discharge systems are arranged in two groupings, in which said stator section is provided with an additional adhesive chamber and is provided also at spaced locations with an additional inlet opening for said additional chamber and an additional return opening therefor and an additional outlet opening interposed therebetween, and in which said adhesive supplying means provides a flow of adhesive through said additional chamber from the inlet opening thereof to the return opening thereof and maintains the adhesive within said additional chamber under pressure thereby tending to express such adhesive through said additional outlet opening, the outlet opening of said additional chamber being disposed with respect to one grouping of said discharge systems for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through the aforementioned one segment of their permissable displacement and being closed by said first section in the aforementioned other segments of such permissable displacement.

11 In apparatus for depositing a fluid material in a predetermined pattern onto a receiving surface, an applicator mechanism comprising relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which is provided with a plurality of fluid discharge systems oriented to define such pattern and the other of which is provided with an outlet opening and with an inlet opening in communication therewith, said inlet opening being connectable with a pressurized source ofsuch fluid material tending to express the same through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge systems for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through one segment of their permissible displacement and being closed by said rotor section in other segments of such permissible displacement, structure supporting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section, said sections in moving relative to each other through the aforesaid one segment being in a condition in which fluid material is delivered to said discharge systems for' deposition therefrom onto a receiving surface, said stator being adjustably rotatable relative to said rotor to selectively establish the angular location at which the aforesaid sequential communication is initiated, and locking structure for releasably securing said stator in any adjusted position thereof.

12. In apparatus for depositing a fluid material in a predetermined pattern onto a receiving surface, an applicator mechanism comprising relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which is provided with a plurality of fluid discharge systems oriented to define such pattern and the other of which is provided with an outlet opening and with an inlet opening in communication therewith, said inlet opening being connectable with a pressurized source of such fluid material tending to express the same through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge systems for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through one seg ment of their permissible displacement and being closed by said rotor section in other segments of such permissible displacement, structure supporting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section, said sections in moving relative to each other through the aforesaid one segment being in a condition in which fluid material is delivered to said discharge systems for deposition therefrom onto a receiving surface, and a shoe removably carried by said rotor and providing discharge ports for said discharge systems, whereby adhesive patterns may be selectively varied by interchanging shoes.

13. Apparatus for use in applying adhesive to bag bottoms and the like, comprising an applicator mechanism having relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which is provided with an adhesive-discharge system including a discharge port, the other such section being provided with an adhesive chamber and being provided also at spaced locations with an inlet opening for said chamber and a return opening for said chamber and an outlet opening for said chamber disposed between said inlet and return openings, adhesive supply means for providing a flow of adhesive through said chamber from the inlet opening to the return opening thereof and for maintaining the adhesive within said chamber under pressure thereby tending to express such adhesive through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge system for cyclically repetitive communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other and otherwise being closed by said first section, and structure supporting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said adhesive supply means comprises an adhesive reservoir and a pair of conduits communicating therewith and being respectively connected to said inlet and return openings, and pump mechanism interposed in the flow path defined through said conduits and being operative to effect the aforesaid pressurization of the adhesive.

15. Apparatus for use in applying adhesive in a predetermined pattern to bag bottoms and the like comprising an applicator mechanism having relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which is provided with a plurality of adhesive-discharge systems comprising a plurality of flow passages provided by said rotor section and a plurality of adhesive-discharge ports also provided thereby and respectively communicating with said passages and being oriented to define such pattern, the other such section being provided with an adhesive chamber and being provided also at spaced locations with an inlet opening for said chamber and a return opening for said chamber and an outlet opening for said chamber interposed between said inlet and return openings, adhesive supply means for providing a flow of adhesive through said chamber from the inlet opening to the return opening thereof and for maintaining the adhesive within said chamber under pressure thereby tending to express such adhesive through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said flow passages for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through one segment of their permissible displacement and being closed by said first section in other segments of such permissible displacement, structure supporting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section, said sections in moving relative to each other through the aforesaid one segment being in a condition in which adhesive is delivered to said ports for deposition in such pattern onto a bag bottom, said stator being adjustably rotatable relative to said rotor to selectively establish the angular location at which the aforesaid sequential communication is initiated, and locking structure for releasably securing said stator in any adjusted position thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which a pair of outwardly extending ribs are provided along said rotor in bordering relation with said discharge ports to space the same from any such bag bottom during deposition of the adhesive pattern thereonto.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 and further comprising a shoe removably carried by said rotor and providing the aforesaid discharge ports and ribs, whereby adhesive patterns may be varied by interchanging shoes.

18. Apparatus for use in applying adhesive in a predetermined pattern to bag bottoms and the like, comprising an applicator mechanism having relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which has an arcuate peripheral surface segment and a generally annular wall portion defining a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said sections, said rotor section being provided with a plurality of adhesive-discharge systems comprising a plurality of flow passages provided by said rotor section having inlets disposed along said annular wall portion in spaced apart relation and comprising also a plurality of adhesive discharge ports provided by said rotor section along said surface segment in patterndefining configuration and respectively communicating with said passages, said stator section being provided with an elongated adhesive chamber and being provided also at spaced locations therealong with an inlet opening for said chamber and a return opening for said chamber and an outlet opening for said chamber interposed between said inlet and return openings, said stator section having a surface area disposed in contiguous facing relation with said annular wall portion and being provided with said outlet opening which is disposed thereat with respect to the inlets of said flow passages for sequential communication therewith as said sections rotate relative to each other, structure supporting such rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section, resilient means biasing said sections so that the aforesaid annular wall portion and surface area are in frictional engagement, and adhesive supply means for providing a flow of adhesive through said chamber from the inlet opening to the return opening thereof and for maintaining the adhesive within said chamber under pressure thereby tending to express such adhesive through said outlet opening and into any flow passage in communication therewith.

19. Apparatus for use in applying adhesive in a predetermined pattern to bag bottoms and the like, comprising an applicator mechanism having relatively rotatable rotor and stator sections the first of which is provided with a plurality of adhesive-discharge systems oriented to define such pattern, the other such section being provided with an adhesive chamber and being provided also at spaced locations with an inlet opening for said chamber and a return opening therefor and an outlet opening interposed therebetween, adhesive supply means for providing a flow of adhesive through said chamber from the inlet opening to the return opening thereof and for maintaining the adhesive within said chamber under pressure thereby tending to express such adhesive through said outlet opening, said outlet opening being disposed with respect to said discharge systems for sequential communication therewith as said sections move relative to each other through one segment of their permissible displacement and being closed by said first section in other segments of such permissible displacement, said adhesive supply means comprising an adhesive reservoir and a pair of conduits communicating therewith and being respectively connected to said inlet and return openings, a supply pump and return pump respectively interposed in said conduits, said pumps being constant speed, continuously operated pumps of substantiallly the same capacity and the pump interposed in the conduit connected with said return outlet being operable at a slightly slower speed than the other of said pumps to effect the aforesaid pressurization of said adhesive, and structure supporting said rotor section for rotational movement relative to said stator section, said sections in moving relative to each other through the aforesaid one segment being in a condition in which adhesive is delivered to said discharge systems for deposition in such pattern onto a bag bottom. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,085,371 6/1937 Kitselman 15-594 2,553,592 5/1951 Kucklinsky 118-259 X 2,691,329 10/1954 Evers 9327 2,892,244 6/1959 Bagnall 118-212 X 2,991,753 7/1961 Dearsley ll8-262 3,091,216 5/1963 Scotti 118-411 X FOREIGN PATENTS 631,476 6/1936 Germany.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner.

B. STICKNEY, L. G. MACHLIN,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING A FLUID MATERIAL ONTO A RECEIVING SURFACE, AN APPLICATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING A PAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE SECTIONS THE FIRST OF WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A FLUID DISCHARGE SYSTEM AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET OPENING AND WITH AN INLET OPENING IN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, SAID INLET OPENING BEING CONNETABLE WITH A PRESSURIZED SOURCE OF SUCH FLUID MATERIAL TENDING TO EXPRESS THE SAME THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING, SAID OUTLET OPENING BEING DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID DISCHARGE SYSTEM FOR INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION THERWITH AS SAID SECTIONS CONTINUE IN RELATIVE MOVEMENT SO THAT IN ONE RELATIVE POSITION OF SAID SECTIONS THE OUTLET OPENING AND DISCHARGE SYSTEM ARE IN COMMUNICATION AND IN A SERIES OF OTHER RELATIVE POSITIONS THEREOF THE OUTLET OPENING IS CLOSE BY SAID FIRST SECTION, AND STRUCTURE SUPORTING SAID SECTIONS FOR SUCH RELATIVE MOVEMENT SAID SECTIONS IN TEH AFORESAID ONE RELATIVE POSITION THEREOF BEING IN A CONDITION IN WHICH FLUID MATERIAL IS DELIVERED TO SAID DISCHARGE SYSTEM FOR DEPOSITION THEREFROM ONTO A RECEIVING SURFACE. 